Means and method for exercising joints and improving blood and lymph circulation therein



July 4, 1967 N A. MacLEOD 3,329,142

MEANS AND METHOD FOR EXERCISING JOINTS AND IMPROVING BLOOD AND LYMPH CIRCULATION THEREIN Filed June 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 36 3a 23 55552: M :IIL'L: .3 32 H :1 f::1 I

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WHANN 8 JIcMAN/G'Al. A/Iornoys 1%! A a Jinn) 3,329,142 JIJNIMPROVING N. A. MacLEOD July 4, 1967 MEANS AND METHOD FOR EXERCISING JOINTS AN BLOOD AND LYMPH CIRCULATION THERE Filed June 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet A/obnan A J/acl eaafl L m N .I m ENJ VA W 0 N m m Wm United States Patent MEANS AND METHOD FOR EXERCISING JOINTS AND IMPROVING BLOOD AND LYMPH CIRCU- LATION THEREIN Norman A. MacLeod, La Habra, Calif., assignor of thirty-six percent to R. Welton Whann, eighteen percent to Wilbur A. Selle, both of Los Angeles, Calif., and ten percent to Frank F. Reed, Pasadena, Calif.

Filed June 21, 1963, Ser. No. 289,655 12 Claims. (Cl. 12840) This is a co-pending application of one which issued as United States Patent No. 3,094,983 for Blood Circulation Device and Method on June 25, 1963.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for causing movements of joints in arms, legs, fingers and toes, and more particularly, is related to a method and means for exercising the joints in combination with improving the blood and lymph circulation in and around the joints.

I have found in the practice of the invention, described in my above patent that an arm or leg being treated in a liquid-filled variable pressure chamber is forced outwardly and inwardly with the application of alternate positive and negative pressures to all of the liquid in the chamber. This movement has amounted to one inch or more and its extent is dependent upon the volume of the piston displacement used to vary the pressure of all the liquid in the chamber.

It has been found that even with a relatively inflexible sealing means, the sealing means being around a limb in the chamber filled with liquid so as to prevent leakage around the limb in the chamber opening, that the limb moves even if the epidermis is almost stationary. This movement is due to the plastic deformable nature of muscle, and fatty and other tissue beneath the epidermis and surrounding the bone. Thus, if a joint is encased in a variable pressure chamber, according to this invention, there are compression and tension stresses on the joint during negative and positive pressures within the chamber, respectively, due to the inertia of the tissue and bone and the unavoidable movement of the encased limb when the pressure in the chamber fluctuates.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for exercising joints.

It is another. object of the present invention to provide an improved method and improved apparatus for tensing and compressing a joint.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus to apply tension and compression to a joint by means of pressure changes around thejoint.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for exercising joints and for simultaneously improving the blood and lymph circulation in and around the joints.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus by which pressure variation is used to produce deep tissue influences involving inter-tissue movement and extension and contraction of limbs or digits of the human body or animals.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus by which pressure variation is used to produce rapid extension and slow contraction of limbs, or vice versa, causing the working of joints and the stimulation of the blood and lymph flow around the joints.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for treating rheumatoid arthritis and other afllictions which are specific to the joints of the human body or animals.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein small details have been described for the competence of disclosure, without intending to limit the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, of an apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a chamber according to the invention, in which a weighted leg is in position for treatment;

FIG. 4 is a view of a' chamber according to the invention and which is specifically designed for the treatment of the fingers and hand;

FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of the invention specifically designed for the treatment of the wrist and arm;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention in which a gas can be used as the fluid, and taken as indicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view, taken as indicated by line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring again to the drawings, in FIG. 1, there is shown an elongated pressure chamber 10, having a cross section suitable to. receive a human leg 11 and having an open end 12 into which the leg has been inserted. Within the open end, there is a seal 13, having its outer periphery secured to a flange of the chamber and having its inner periphery 17 substantially annular to conform to the leg 11. The inner periphery of the seal has two lips 18 and 19, spaced by an enlarged diameter surface 20. The seal is maintained by a negative pressure made available through a tube 23, terminating inwardly through the surface 20 so that the negative pressure draws the skin of the leg against the surfaces of the lips 18 and 19 and toward the surface 20, a greater pressure at all times being exerted on the exterior surfaces of the seal to force it into sealing relationship with the leg.

The leg shown to be resting within the chamber 10 on hard rubber cushions 24, 25 and 26, the cushions being secured to the chamber. The leg is secured at the ankle to the cushion 25 by a strap 29 and the foot is secured to the cushion 26 by a strap 30, the straps being so secured fitting 35, and vented, while filling, through a fitting 3'6 to which a pressure gauge 37 is attached after the chamber is completely filled, as shown. A theremometer 38 is sealingly securedin the chamber for use with treatments where it is desirable to regulate the temperature of the liquid.

Extending downwardly from the chamber 10 is a pipe 41 connected to a drain valve 42, used to drain the chamher, after a treatment, for example, prior to the time the limb is removed. Also connected to the pipe -41 is a cylinder 43, having a reciprocating piston 44 slidably and sealingly engaged therein. When the chamber is filled with liquid for treatment purposes, that part of the cylinder 43 to the right of the piston in the drawing is also always filled with the liquid so that any movement of the piston in the cylinder changes the pressure in all of the liquid in the chamber and the pressure on the limb being treated.

The piston 44 has a rod 47 connected to a relatively stiff coil spring 48 which in turn is connected to a rod 49 of a compressed-air driven piston 50. The piston 50 is slidably engaged to reciprocate in cylinder 53 and moves U-shaped frame 102 having its outer end secured to a spring 103. The latter is adjustably secured by means of an I-bolt 100. Here again, the arm is held in a position of rest toward the closed end of the chambers and it is moved and exercised in accordance with the negative and positive pressure pulses to the liquid.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown an open-ended chamher 104 formed of two half cylinders secured together at their flanges, generally designated 108 and 109. An elastomeric seal 105 is adjacent the end of a finger, the seal being formed by the resiliency of the material, and at the other end of the chamber, there is a suction-type seal 106, as shown in FIG. 1. Within the chamber, there are two elastomeric members 110 and 111 which, when placed together, form a tube having an inner cylindrical opening 114 of a diameter to receive the finger, with portions thereof extending outwardly of the chamber. The surface of the cylindrical opening 114 has elongated recesses or slots 115 and an annular groove 116. The slots 115 and the groove 116 provide a gas flow path to the cylinder 114 and to the finger from a radially directed tube 117 which is connected to a gas varying pressure source, such as an enlarged version of piston 44 in FIG. 1.

The piston to vary the pressure of the gas in the cylinder 114 and on the finger has to be somewhat larger, relatively, because of the compressibility of the gas in contrast to the non-compressibility of the liquid as used in chamber 10 in FIG. 1. However, since the volume of the gas surrounding the finger is very small, the amount of gas which can be compressed or expanded around the finger is also very small.

A gas, of course, has a disadvantage, in contrast to a liquid, in that it is compressible, but when the. gas is restricted to a very small volume, there is very little gas to be compressed or expanded and the pressure can be adequately applied to a limb with air as the medium in such low volume situations. If there should be an excess of space between a finger, as in this case, and the chamber surfaces, a non-porous plastic material can be inserted to reduce the air volume. However, with air as the medium to apply the pressure variations to a limb or finger, the pressure-time curve cannot be steep and the cycling of the pressure variation cannot be as fast as with liquid. A gas or air has one advantage over liquid and that is that it does not have to be drained away or handled.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, as the positive pressure pulse is applied to the finger and the chamber by the .air medium, the joint of the finger is put into tension and the finger tends to move outwardly of the chamber at both ends. Similarly, when the negative pressure pulse is applied, the joint of the finger is compressed and the finger is moved inwardly into the chamber from both ends. This exercises the joint and stimulates the circulation of the blood and lymph in the finger.

It should be noted that while positive pressures of any desired amount can be readily applied to an enclosed joint, the amount of negative pressure which can be applied is limited by the atmospheric pressure at the time. However, the negative pressure can be increased by enclosing the entire body in a pressurized room as described in the above-mentioned patent. Similarly, in treating a finger joint or a knee, according to the method illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, to increase the possible negative pressure applied, the entire limb can be enclosed in a surrounding chamber which can be pressurized to any required constant state.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts of'the inven tion without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example. I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or 6 uses mentioned, except as defined in the accompanying claims, wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

I claim:

1. A method for exercising joints and circulation adjacent thereto, comprising: (a) enclosing a joint in a chamber;

(b) sealing said joint within said chamber;

(c) filling said sealed chamber with a liquid;

(d) applying a positive pressure to all of said liquid in said chamber to tense said joint; and

(e) applying a negative pressure to all of said liquid in said chamber to compress said joint.

2. A method for exercising joints and improving blood circulation adajacent thereto, comprising:

(a) enclosing a joint in a chamber;

(b) sealing said joint within said chamber;

(c) filling said sealed chamber with a liquid; and

(d) varying the pressure of all of said] liquid to alternately tense and compress said joint.

3. A method for exercising joints and improving blood circulation adjacent thereto, comprising:

(a) enclosing a limb portion and a joint thereof in a chamber;

(b) securing one end of said limb Within said chamber;

(c) sealing said limb adjacent to its other end within said chamber;

(d) filling said sealed chamber with liquid; and

(e) varying the pressure of all of said liquid to alternately tense and compress said joint.

4. A method for exercising joints and improving blood circulation adjacent thereto, comprising:

(a) enclosing a limb portion and a joint thereof in a chamber, said limb hanging vertically therein;

(b) attaching a weight to the lower and inner end of said limb adjacent the inner end of said chamber;

(c) resiliently sealing said limb within said chamber;

((1) filling said sealed chamber with a liquid; and

(e) varying the pressure of all of said liquid to alternately tense and compress said joint.

5. A method for exercising joints and improving blood criculation adjacent thereto, comprising:

(a) enclosing a limb portion and a joint thereon in a chamber;

(b) resiliently attaching one end of said portion to the inner end of said chamber;

(c) sealing said limb within said chamber;

(d) filling said sealed chamber with a liquid; and

(e) varying the pressure of all of said liquid to alternately tense and compress said joint.

6. A method for exercising joints and improving blood criculation adjacent thereto, comprising:

(a) enclosing a limb portion and a joint there-on in a chamber;

(b) extending portions of said limb outwardly of each end of said chamber;

(c) sealing the ends of said chamber on said limb portions;

(d) filling said sealed chamber with a liquid; and

(e) varying the pressure of all of said liquid to alternately tense and compress said joint.

7. A method for exercising joints and improving blood circulation adjacent thereto, comprising:

(a) enclosing a part of a body and a joint thereon in a chamber;

(b) said chamber conforming to the shape of said part therein and the interior surfaces of said chamber being in juxtaposition with corresponding surfaces of said part to provide a minim-um space between said respective surfaces, said minimum of space being provided by gas passages along said interior surfaces and along said surfaces of said part;

(c) sealing said part in said chamber;

(d) filling said chamber with a gas;

improved blood (e) applying a positive pressure to all" of said gas-in said chamber to tense said jointpand 3 11 (f) applying a-negative-pressure toiallofsaid gasin said chamber to compress said joint.

' 8; The combinationof a variable liquid pressure'device for exercising joints and means for improving blood and lymph circulation aroundlthe joints-(comprising: 1

(a) a chamber for containing a liquid under pressure and means to fill said chamber with liquid; 15 (b) said chamber having an opening adapted to .re-

ceive a part of1a body having ajoint'therein; (c) means to secure a portion ofgsaid partiwithin .said

chamber; 1 I (d) a sealbeing formable' at said opening in contact with said body to close said chamberjanda 1 (e) means to vary the pressure of-all the liquid in the filled chamber so 1 as to exercise the joints by tensing and compressing it. 1 511; 1 9 The combination of a variable fluidpressure device for exercising joints and means for improving blood and lymph circulation around the joints, comprising: 1

(a) a chamberqfor containinga liquid underpressure andmeans to fill said-chamberWith'liquid; (b) said chamber having an opening adapted toreceive ,1 l apart of a body having a joint therein; 1: '(c) means to adjustably; secure'the inner-endaof said part adjacent the inner end of said chamber; (d) aseal being formable; at said. openingrin' contact 'withsaid body to close said chamber; and (e) means tocvarythe pressure of all the. liquid in the filled-chamber so" as to'exercise the joint. 1 10. The combination of a variable fluid pressure device for exercising joints and means for improvingblood'and lymph circulation around the joints, comprising? l (a) a chamber for containinga liquid under pressure and means to fillsaidchamber with liquid, 1 L= #(b) said chamber having an openingadapted to re- --ceive a part ofa body=having a joint therein; means to hold the'in-nerend of said partadjacent the inner end of said chamber; 1 I 1 a (:d) .aseal being formable. at said opening with said bodyto close saidchamber; and 1 1 1 (e) means to vary the pressure-of all the liquid in the filled chamber so as to exercise the joint 1 1 incontact 11. The 'cornbination ofa variable fluid pressuredevice ror'exer'cising "joints and means for improving bloc and lymplr circulation "{around the joints; comprising? 1 (a) I an open entl ed chamber forf'containing a liq'uid (b=)- said'chamber being adapted to receivea lirnb hav of the 'limb extending' out o'f open-"ends; (c) a -seal formab1e at each of said open nds in eontact With said limb to close said chambefl a'n'd I (d) rn'eans tjoi -varythe pressure of allthe liquid in the 1 'filled zchamber so as -to exercise the joint 'by te'hsirig Fandcompressihgit.

12. The combination'ofa variable fluid pressure device for exercising :joints and means'-'forimproving blood and lymph 'circulation around theoints, c'omprising:}'- (a)'= a chamber for c'ont'ai'ninga liquid u-nder pressure (b) said-chamber having 'a'n 'openin'gf adapted to receive apart- 0f abody having a 'joint'therein?" 1 (c) means to resilientlyfand =adjustably secure the inner end of said part adjac'ent the"-inner -endf of said jcha'r'nberg? 4 I v. r :(d) seal beinig formable at said 1 opening in contact *withsaid:body tofclose"saidcharnber;-and-' e) means -to 'varyfithepressureof-all'ofthe liquid in z "the chamber filled was to eig ercise the joint'by was ing jand compressingifl- References Cited 6 9,388; 128 299, 4/1938 Gray L 112812-238 22303 681 3; 1219.211 -Roensch 128-38 -2 480 98Qw 19/ 19491; Terhaar -12830 02 Germv nYm Rial?- ft i E amin Ii. WQ TRAPP Assistant Examin'erz 

2. A METHOD FOR EXERCISING JOINTS AND IMPROVING BLOOD CIRCULATION ADJACENT THERETO, COMPRISING: (A) ENCLOSING A JOINT IN A CHAMBER; (B) SEALING SAID JOINT WITHIN SAID CHAMBER; (C) FILLING SAID SEALED CHAMBER WITH A LIQUID; AND (D) VARYING THE PRESSURE OF ALL OF SAID LIQUID TO ALTERNATELY TENSE AND COMPRESS SAID JOINT. 